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Editor's Spotlight

Bag-Filling Machine
The MCRS system is designed to place lawn and garden products into plastic open-mouth bags. Rates of up to 10 bags/min can be obtained using three workers. The system is fed by a front-end loader, which feeds an incline belt that delivers product to the scale feeding the bag. The bag is then conveyed through the sealer and inclined to palletizing height.JEM International, Shawnee, KS 913-441-4787 www.jemesp.com

High-Speed Robotic Palletizer
Columbia/Okura’s A1600 robot palletizes 50-lb. bags at a rate of 24 bags/min. It stacks bags of various sizes and types, including paper, poly, and woven-poly, without tooling changes. Reliable and cost-effective, the robot handles product from as many as four lower-speed production lines. A small footprint and flexible layout enable the palletizer to be placed in very tight spaces. The unit can be expanded to accommodate future production growth.Columbia/Okura LLC, Vancouver, WA 98661 360-735-1952 www.columbiaokura.com

Bulk Bag FillersThese bulk bag fillers combine flexibility with custom features such as bag inflation, electronic scales, adjustable-height loop support arms, integral dust collection, and bag compaction. Standard units feature a rugged, heavy-duty carbon-steel box frame, a round 10-in. ANSI-material flanged inlet, inflatable bag-spout seal, fill spout with displaced-air venting, and forklift access for palletized bulk bags. They are also available in 304 or 316 stainless steel with NEMA 7/9 controls per customer specifications. These units are custom built to accommodate any process in which free-flowing dry bulk materials can be stored in bulk bags.Cyclonaire Corp., York, NE 888-593-6241 www.cyclonaire.comCase Palletizers
The GS100 series provides a cost-effective, fully automated palletizer for companies wishing to convert from manual palletizing. The units are also used in larger multiline operations in which high-speed palletizing is not cost-justified. Capable of speeds up to 30 cases/min, the GS100 series is ideal for a wide array of applications, including food, beverage, consumer goods, and general manufacturing. Three models are available, including the GS120 (manual pallet handling), GS130 (semiautomated pallet handling), and GS140 (fully automated pallet handling). All three models feature all-metric design, pattern utility and layer-editing functions, and premium drive components for reduced maintenance requirements.FKI Logistex North America, St. Louis, MO 314-993-4700 www.fkilogistex.com

Bag Dump Station
This bag dump station with integral dust control is equipped with a pulse-cleaned cartridge filter and fan to maintain a clean, dust-controlled process environment. While the operator dumps material, the fan draws dust-laden air away from the operator and through the cartridge filters. The filters receive blasts of compressed air to keep them clean while dropping material fines back into the hopper for efficient product recovery. The bag dump station can handle powder, granular, and pelletized materials. Several different filter media are available to accommodate different applications. A lightweight access door with integrated hinge design does not require high-maintenance door hinges. The unit is available in stainless steel or FDA epoxy-coated carbon steel.Premier Pneumatics Inc., Salina, KS 785-826-9302 www.premierpneumatics.comStretch Wrapper with Integrated RFID Tag Reader
RFID tag-reading capability is now a standard option on this company’s semiautomatic pallet stretch wrappers. Capable of reading Gen 1 and 2 tags, the battery-powered system can read tags at the pallet or case level. This reader is now a standard option on all turntable stretch-wrapping systems and will soon be included on the company’s overhead straddle stretch wrappers as well. The portable and wireless RD5000 is a hands-off RFID solution. A simple drop-in option, it eliminates all brackets, cables, external antennas, and interfaces to the machine or control system, working independently of the machine with its own motion-sensing capability. The compact reader measures 7×9×2 in.
L×W×H and weighs less than 4 lb. It is battery operated but can also be wired to the machine’s power supply as a customer option.Lantech.com, Louisville, KY 800-866-0322 www.lantech.comBulk Bag Discharging System
The patented Funnel Flow bag hanger has an automatic bag loop retractor and liner tensioner to provide complete material discharge from the bag without operator involvement. The system changes the geometry of the bulk bag into a cone, eliminating dead spots where product can collect. The pneumatic massage paddles are designed to enhance material flow, pushing the product toward the discharge spout of the bulk bag. The E-3 traveling tube provides total dust containment and complete product discharge from the bag.NBE Inc., Holland, MI 616-738-7248 www.nbe-inc.com

Robotic Valve Bag Placer
Benefiting from Taylor Products’ relationship with Fanuc Robotics,
the TRV1000 offers the latest in robotic technology. The unit can place bags on multiple machines. It can be mounted in multiple positions and is customizable to accommodate specific applications. Benefits include direct labor savings and improved personnel scheduling and utilization; multiple mounting positions, compact size, and a small footprint to facilitate placement in tight surroundings; a dust- and water-resistant design to maximize durability; and flexibility to handle products of multiple sizes with one robot. The placer requires minimal programming and maintenance.Taylor Products, Kansas City, KS 888-882-9567 www.taylorproducts.com

Full-Layer Robotic Palletizing SystemThe Full-Layer robotic palletizer combines nonrobotic layer-forming technology with a robotic palletizer to transfer and stack a full layer of product at a time using a roller curtain. This hybrid palletizing system maximizes robot utilization, achieving high production rates and offering versatility within a small footprint. It performs multiple tasks simultaneously, forming rows and layers at the same time that the robot transfers and stacks formed layers to the pallet. It handles up to five layers or more per minute.Priority One Packaging Ltd., Waterloo, ON, Canada 800-387-9102 www.priorityonepackaging.comPinch Bag Sealers
The PBC-S series of fully automatic pinch bag sealers prevents bags from shifting in the sealing position, placing bags between carrier chains and automatically transporting them through the machines. Various models are available for pinch bags, including multiwall gusseted, nongusseted paper, or multiwall models with a PE inner layer. Models have single- and double-pinch variations with dual-blower arrangements for high-speed closing. A hot-air blower reactivates preapplied hot melt glue, and the bags are sealed between press rolls. A preheat station is available for sealing the inner liners of double-pinch bags.American-Newlong Inc., Indianapolis, IN 317-787-9421 www.american-newlong.com

Valve Bag Fillers
Model 1070 impeller-valve bag fillers are available in one-, two-, three-, and four-spout configurations. Their rugged design is ideal for the severe atmospheres typically found in facilities packaging cement, limestone, gypsum, stucco, fly ash, and similar products. Filling rates per spout of 5 to 9 bags/min and accuracies of ±6 oz are achieved, depending on product characteristics. Standard features include scale beam weighing, air-operated bag clamps, a dust hood and manifold, and NEMA 12 electrical controls.Available options include load cell weighing, a bag-in-place switch with automatic fill start, and automatic bag discharge.Chantland-MHS, Humboldt, IA 515-332-4045 www.chantland.comDual-Beam Unloader Tower
The Dual-Beam unloader enables fast discharging of bulk bags. Beam extension out of both sides allows for the staging of four bulk bags at once. The frame is modular in construction, allowing for integration of application-specific process equipment. An integrated access platform places operators at the optimum position to access bags, while a scale system enables users to track bag change-outs and batch size. The entire unit is shipped preassembled in four modular sections. Prewired assemblies include local motor disconnects, which enable fast startup. Towers are available in food grade, USDA, and general industrial configurations.HAF Equipment Inc., Centerville, MN 651-653-5098 www.hafequipment.com